RECONSTITUTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF COMPLEMENT BY PLASMA INFUSIONS GIVEN TO A PATIENT WITH AN SLE-LIKE SYNDROME-ASSOCIATED WITH A HEREDITARY C3 DYSFUNCTION

Objective-To reconstitute a dysfunctional form of complement factor C3 in a patient with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like syndrome. Methods-The propositus was treated with plasma infusions during five sessions over a period of eight months. Results-The alternative reconstituted to normal approximately two to three days after each infusion. C3 fragments were incorporated into previously detected deposits of IgG and IgM at the dermal-epidermal junction and the immune complex levels gradually decreased during the whole treatment period. Conclusion-The reconstitution appears to result in the solubilisation of tissue immune complexes and a subsequent transportation to the fixed macrophage system.